Automatic lock slider



Dec. 5, 1950 L. H. MORIN 2,533,034

AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER Filed April 24, 1946 i l l i I INVENTOR T lows/ZMaw/v BY M' ATTORNE Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES OFFICE AUTOMATICLOCK SLIDER Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N. Y.

Application April 24, 1946, Serial No. 664,585

7 Claims. (01. 2 1-2051;)

This invention relates to sliders for separable fastener stringers. Moreparticularly, the invention deals with sliders of what I term the sidelocking type, wherein the lock element of the slider is movablelaterally with respect to the scoops of the stringers and normally heldin position between adjacent scoops on a stringer in retaining theslider against movement in either direction thereon. Still moreparticularly, the invention includes means for automatically moving thelock element of the slider into inoperative position in actuating thepull of the slider to move the slider in either direction on thestringers. The novel features of the invention will best be understoodfrom the following description, when taken together with theaccompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention aredisclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitablereference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a slider made according to my invention,diagrammatically illustrating the same on a pair of stringers with partsof the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the scoops of onestringer with the lock element therebetween.

Fig. .3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the lock element, detached.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a modified form of slider construction;and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line l-l of Fig. 6, on an enlarged scale.

In sliders of the kind under consideration, it has been the commonpractice to provide a lock element or pin member movable vertically intoposition between scoops of the stringers to look a slider againstmovement longitudinally of the stringer. Furthermore, this look elementor pin member has formed a part of the pull and in the event that thepull becomes displaced, the slider has been free to move along thestringers, thus failing to perform the desired function.

It is the purpose of my invention to overcome the objectionable featuresto the present type of lock sliders by providing a look element which is2 independently controlled insofar as movement thereof into lockedposition is concerned, and which may be moved into an inoperative ornonlocking position by exerting a pull upon the fingerpiece of theslider in either of two directions. During the interval when thefingerpiece is being pulled, the slider moves freely along the stringersin response thereto, but otherwise the fingerpiece is free for swingingmovement on the slider without contributing any action upon the lockelement to release it from locked position. It will also become apparentthat in manually moving the slider along the stringers, the instant thepull is released, the lock element will automatically be moved intolocked position by the spring employed.

In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, I have shown one adaptation of my invention,and in these figures, l0 represents the slider body comprising a topwall II and bottom wall l2, these walls being connected by a frog or web[3 at the wide end of the slider in accordance with conventionalpractice. The walls H and [2 have inturned flanges at their inneradjacent faces, as at [4 and I5, note Fig. 3, to define the channel iiiin which the scoops l1-l'l of a pair of stringers l8l8', indicated indot and dash lines in Figs. 1 and 3, are adapted to operate. The scoopsare diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing and the scoopsll of the stringer l3 are shown in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawingin order to illustrate the arrangement of the lock element, laterdescribed, between adjacent scoops in retaining the slider againstmovement on the stringers.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the upper wall I Iof the slider has on its outer face, an elongated recess I9 in which ismounted a retaining plate 20 for retaining a slide 2| againstdisplacement from the wall H and within a narrower elongated aperture22. The plate 28 is held in position by a plurality of inwardly turnedlugs 23, note Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The slide 2| has substantially centrally of the outer surface thereof anupwardly projecting lug 2d, recesses at opposite side surfaces, asindicated at 25 in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawing to receiveinwardly extending pivot portions 26 on a pull 21. One end of the slide2: has on the lower surface thereof a substantially triangular recess 28defining diverging cam surfaces 29 and 30, note Fig. l. These cammingsurfaces intersect in a rounded intermediate portion 3!, in which a pinmember 32 of a lock element 33 normally seats.

Considering Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will appear that the wall H has atransverse recess 34 which is enlarged at its inner end, as seen at 35,in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The element 33 is mounted in this recess tomove laterally or transversely with respect to the movement of theslider along the stringer. The pin 22 projects upwardly-into. the recess28, and the element 33 includes atiits outer end" a downwardlyprojecting lock lug 36 which is adapted to extend into the channel It inthe normal lock position of the element 33 and to be positioned betweenadjacent scoops on a stringer, as clearly seen in Fig; 2'

of the drawing, and also indicated in Fig.v 3;.

The lug 36 operates in a further cutout portion 31 of the wall 5 i,which cutoutportion' ai'soopens" through the side edge of the sliderwall, so as to permit outward movement of the element 33 including. thelug. 3.5,.to clear the channel l5., or to permit. free movement of thesccops through. the. channel. it of the slider. The element 33'carriesat. itsinner endia projectingfinger or'lug 3?. against which. oneend 39. ofa d-shapedspring Allis adapted to bear to normally. retain theele- 1 ment. 3B in locked. position. The other end 41' of. the spring.ail bears. against the wall '32 of the aperture. 22, the spring it beingpositioned below: the; slide. 2L. as. will; clearly, appear from acon.-sideration of. Fig. 2 of. the drawing.

From the.for.eg.oing,,it. will appear that when the. fingerpiece. or.pull 21 is in normal position, thaspring, MI supports the element33 innormal; position,,witli the locklug 36. between. scoops of" a stringer,for example, the scoops I! of the stringer !8, which position of. theparts is. shown in Figs. 1, 2.and 3' of the drawing; In grasping thepull2! to move the slider'downwardly'to sep1- aratethe stringers, the slide2| will move downwardly. in the top wall H, causingthe pin 32 to rideover the cam surface 29'; which: will move the lock element 33 outwardlyagainst the action of. the spring 40 crime end 39. thereof, asseeninhi'g. 4' of the drawing;

In moving the slider upwardlyor in the opposite. direction, the slide 2!will move upwardly'or in the direction of the wide end. of" the sliderancl theipin 32 will move over'the cam surface 3'6, pro.- ducing' thesame result, namely moving the lock element 33; outwardly or to theleft. All of theabove descriptions are applied to the slider, as seen inthe drawing: When. the pull- 21' is released; the slide 21- will bereturned to neutral; position by'action' of the spring end 39-upon thefinger or lug 33, which moves the element 33- into locked position andseats the pin 32in the rounded" intersection 31 of the recess 28, whichposition is indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

In Figs. Band 7 of the drawing; I have shown a modification, in whichtheplate Zfl-is dispensed with and a'slid'e' 21 substantially similar-tothe slide 21" is employed; the slide 2! having bevelled side walls 53slidably engaging correspondingly formed elongated ribs M extendinglongitudinally of the top wall i i of' a slider.

Theslide- 2| has the pivot lug 24 similar to; the lug 24 and thetriangular recess 28 similar to therecess 28. At 33 is shown a lockelement substantially similar to-the element 33, and having a lock lug36' at one end, an extension 38 at the slider wall H, as at 48.

' to the pin 32, which operates in the recess 28'.

In Fig. '7 of the drawing, [2 represents the bottom wall equivalent tothe wall [2, and at I3 is shown the web joining the slider walls I II2and at It is shown the channel. of. the slider. In. Figs. 6 and '7, theloch element. 335 is shown in locked position.

With the construction shown in Figs. 6 and '7, it. will.appear that theslide 2i is exposed at the outer'surface of the slider and is movablelongitudinally thereof within the channel formed by the ribs 44.However, the operation of the slider shown in these figures will be thesame as thatot theother figures insofar as actuation of the element 33is concerned, and therefore, no further detailed description ishereingiven.

Returning now to Figs. 1' to 5 inclusive... it. will.

appear that the closure plate. 20" has an elongatediapertureill thereinin which the pivotlug 2 3 of the. slide operates in movement of theslide longitudinally of the slider.

With. the constructionshownin Figs..1 to 4. inclusiye, it. will be;apparent that the lugs- 23. are normally opento admit the plate 2.4!.and in the assemblage. the. lock. element. 3.3. and spring 40.

are. firstplaced in position, the. element 33. passing, downwardlythrough an opening Ha. formed inthe wall 1.! after which the slide isplaced upon said elementand spring andthen the platev 20 is a put intoposition, after which. the lugs 23. are forced inwardly.

Considering Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawing, here the. element 33" isfirst dropped in position through the opening 44" provided inone of theribs 44. The spring 40" is, then placed in positi'on, after which theslide 2! is mounted. in

the. groove withthe ribs in anopen position,.the same as the lugs 23,thereafter, the ribs are bent inwardly to freely engage the bevelledwalls 43 of the slide and thusretain the parts. in assembledrelationship.

It will be understood that the slider body as well as the lock elementand the slide can each readily be formed as die castings, and from thisstandpoint,. comprise independent articles of manufacture and assemblagecan. be made at any time by simply turning in the retaining lugs orribs. By reason of this construction, a. very simple and economicalslider. structure is produced. As a matter of. fact, aside. from the. U-shapedspring employed; the entire slider device may' be composed of anysuitablev die. cast material.

Having. fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lock slider. for separable fastener stringers, said slidercomprising a body having flanged walls joined and. spaced at one end bya connecting web, the flanged Walls of the slider forming a channel forreception of scoops of separable fastener stringers in coupling anduncoupling the same by movement of the slider. longitudinally of thestringers, a lock member mounted.

in one wall of the slider and movable in its en-- tirety transversely ofsaid wall, said member having a non-bevelled non-ratcheting lug adaptedto project into the channel of the slider between scoops of onestringerin'retaining the slider against movement. on the stringers,tensional means supporting. the lock member in op erative position,means comprising a slide member movable longitudinally of said wall ofthe slider and operatively engaging said lock member to move the sameinto'inoperative position in movement of said slide member in thedirection of either end of said slider, said slide member having ashorter length than said Wall of the slider and being movable within theend boundaries of said wall, and the operative engagement between saidlock and slide members comprising a pin on one of said members operatingin a recess in the other of said members, said recess being defined bycam walls.

2. In lock sliders of the class described comprising a channeled sliderbody defined by spaced walls joined by a connecting web at one endthereof, the combination therewith of a lock element in one of saidwalls, said lock element being movable as a unit transversely of saidwall and having a non-bevelled non-ratcheting locking finger adapted toextend into one of said slider channels, a spring operable on said lockelement to urge the latter in one direction, a longitudinal memberoverlying said spring and lock element, said longitudinal member beingmovable relatively to said wall, and interengaging means on thelongitudinal member and the lock element whereby movement of thelongitudinal member serves to move the lock element against the actionof the spring.

3. In lock sliders of the class described comprising a channeled sliderbody defined by spaced walls joined by a connecting web at one endthereof, the combination therewith of a longitudinal recess in one ofsaid Walls, a transverse recess in said wall intersecting thelongitudinal recess and extending to a lateral edge of said wall, a lockelement in the transverse recess which is movable as a unit therein,said lock element having a non-ratcheting locking finger adapted toextend into one of said slider channels, a spring in the longitudinalrecess operable on the lock element to urge the latter in one directionin the transverse recess, a flat movable member in the longitudinalrecess overlying said spring and the lock element, and interengagingmeans on said member and the lock element whereby movement of the memberserves to move the lock element against the action of the spring. 7

4-. In lock-sliders of the class described comprising a channeled sliderbody defined by spaced walls joined by a connecting web at one endthereof, the combination therewith of a longitudinal recess in one ofsaid walls and a transverse recess in said wall intersecting thelongitudinal recess, a lock element in the transverse recess movable inits entirety therein, said lock element having a non-ratcheting lockfinger extending into one of said slider channels, a spring in thelongitudinal recess operable on said lock element to urge the latter inone direction in the transverse recess, a longitudinal member in thelongitudinal recess overlying said spring and lock element, saidlongitudinal member being movable in said longitudinal recess,interengaging means on the longitudinal member and the lock elementwhereby movement of the longitudinal member serves to move the lockelement against the action of the spring, a pull coupling member on saidlongitudinal member adaptedto extend above said slider wall, and a pullattached to said pull coupling member and adapted to extend loosely overeither end of the slider.

5. In lock sliders of the class described comprising a channeled sliderbody defined by spaced walls joined by a connecting web at one end.thereof, the combination therewith of a longitudinal recess in one ofsaid walls and a transverse recess in said wall intersecting thelongitudinal recess, a lock member in the transverse recess having anon-ratcheting lock finger extending into one ofv said slider channels,said lock member being movable in its entirety in the transverse recess,a spring in the longitudinal recess operable onsaid lock member to urgethe latter in one direction in the transverse recess, a movable memberin the longitudinal recess, and interengaging means on the movablemember and the lock member whereby longitudinal movement of the movablemember serves to move the lock member against the action of the spring,said interengaging means comprising an opening in one of said membersdefined by cam Walls and a projection on the other of said membersengageable with said cam walls.

6. In lock sliders of the class described comprising a channeled sliderbody defined by spaced walls joined by a connecting web at one endthereof, the combination therewith of two longitudinal recesses in oneof said walls, one of said recesses being disposed above and openinginto the other, a transverse recess intersectr ing the secondlongitudinal recess and opening through a lateral edge of the sliderwall, a lock element in the transverse recess extending to said lateraledge of the slider Wall, said lock element being movable in its entiretyin the transverse recess and having a non-ratcheting locking fingeradapted to extend into one of said slider channels, a spring in thesecond longitudinal recess operable on the lock element to urge thelatter in one direction in the transverse recess, an elongated member insaid second longitudinal recess overlying the spring and the lockelement, said member being movable in the second longitudinal recess,interengaging means on the member and the lock element whereby movementof the member serves to move the lock element against the action of thespring, a plate in the first longitudinal recess overlying said member,an elongated aperture in said plate, a pull coupling member on saidelongated member extending through said aperture and projecting abovesaid slider wall, and having a non-bevelled non-ratcheting lockingfinger adapted to extend into one of said slider channels.

7. In lock sliders of the class described comprising a channeled sliderbody defined by spaced walls joined by a connecting web at one endthereof, the combination therewith of two longitudinal recesses in oneof said walls, one of I said recesses being disposed above and openinginto the other, a transverse recess intersecting the second longitudinalrecess, a movable lock element in the transverse recess having anonratcheting lock finger extending into one of said slider channels, aspring in the second longitudinal recess operable on the lock element tourge the latter in one direction in the transverse recess, a movablemember in said second longitudinal recess overlying the spring and thelock element, interengaging means on said member 7 and the lock elementwhereby movement of the member .serves to move the lock elementz-a'gainst the :action of the spring, and a stationary memher in thefirst longitudinal recess overlying the movable member.

LOUIS H. MORIN.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN f PATENTS Country Date Gilmore Jan. 15, 1935Number Number Name Date Morin et 'aL, Sept. 5, 1939 Grant Nov. 4, 1941Poux Apr. 28, 1942 .Marinsky Dec. v1, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country :DateSwitzerland Dec. 16, 1940

